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Simon regarded the large package that Athena had placed in his still-shackled hands with respect. Though Prosecutor Edgeworth was still working on getting Simon truly free, he had been able to grant him some privileges.
He'd been watching Taka preen as he replayed the mock trial in his head. Free? He smirked. A ronin is never truly free. Not in these days.
Athena's happy noise--Simon had no other way of describing it--pulled him from his thoughts.
"Can I come in, Simon?" she asked, electric in her movements. She had stopped a modest distance away in order to give the inmate some semblance of privacy.
"Certainly, Cykes-dono. Simply ask the doorman to lead you into the ballroom."
Athena knew Simon well enough that she simply smiled at his rather dry form of humour. Walking up to the bars of Simon's cell, she held her hands behind her back.
"Mr Edgeworth's working nonstop on getting you out of here, but I can't believe you're still stuck!" Athena grumbled. "I'm sorry!"
Simon simply shook his head.
"So, we got you a little something to tide you over until you're really free again." Her hands met in front of her, and in them was a long box that was thin enough to be passed through the bars of the cell. Simon rose to his full height, relieved that Athena did not cringe. He strode over to the bars and patiently held his shackled hands in front of him, on his side of the bars.
"Do you still like sweets? I remember when, well, you would usually have a little piece of candy when you went to visit Mom, and you'd always share it with me."
Simon was touched she'd remembered, and that the candy and companionship had meant enough to her to form a memory. "I cannot say. These captors have not allowed such sweetmeats to light upon my tongue."
Athena looked both a bit forlorn and indignant. "No sweets? I know it's prison, but--" she eyed Simon critically. "So that's why you've gotten to be such a skinny-minny!"
Simon snorted very quietly. "I have used the time to build my mind and body for battle in the court."
"And how," Athena beamed. "Well, it's not much, but just until you're out of here. Like Taka!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms out to resemble the bird's wingspan while still carefully holding the box. Her arms nestled at her sides, and she pushed the edge of the box into Simon's cell. "Can you get it from there? Will you be able to open it?"
"A mere cardboard vessel is nothing compared to the intricacies of the human mind," he boasted. He took the box from Athena and then met her eyes.
"Many thanks, Cykes-dono, for all of the things you have done for me."
Athena blushed under Simon's unmasked gratitude. "If you and I start thanking each other again, you'll never get to eat your snacks!" A guard cleared his throat and pointed to the clock on the wall. Athena put her hands on her hips. "Take care of yourself, Simon." She started to walk off, then turned around, smiled brightly, and called out:
"Bon appétit!"
=-=-=-=-=-
Simon examined the contents of his care package with awe. He took note of many things: the differences in the packaging of the sweets since he'd last partaken of them, their names, some long-forgotten, and the sheer number contained within.
After much deliberation, he selected a chocolate bar with a filling that had been one of his favourites. With reverence, he denuded it just enough to let the aroma greet him.
Oh, sweets had been wonderful. Would be wonderful.
Simon inhaled deeply again, as if enjoying the perfume of an exotic flower. He brought his mouth to the exposed piece and gently, slowly, sunk his teeth into it.
The flavour! The flavour he had remembered must have been dulled by the years. Simon couldn't recall enjoying eating since his incarceration; he only ate to keep his mind and body functioning, and was usually only reminded to do so when he was led to the cafeteria.
He chewed softly, allowing the flavours to mix in his mouth. There was pleasure in even swallowing it. Simon sighed, in something almost akin to ecstasy.
But the warrior spirit within him awakened, and it was ravenous. Simon tore paper and plastic from candies, shoving them in his mouth, chewing, and swallowing with gusto.
It was only when the box was empty that Simon realized a mistake had been made.
He looked at the wrappers littering the cold cell floor around them. He could not remember having ever eaten that much of anything before. Aghast, he looked down at his stomach. It was sticking out. He poked at it in disbelief. It was hard and sensitive, made no less so by his manual probing. Simon tried to settle himself down on the floor to rest, noticing with dismay that his trousers fastener had come undone as a result of his hedonism. He felt shamed, staring at what remained of his gift.
He reclined fully on the floor, stomach protesting the movement with shots of pain. He moved his hands up to what he regretted to call his middle, taking a more tender approach as he softly rubbed circles over it.
Yes, this had been a mistake.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Athena raced past the guards, dragging the poor key holder along with her, toward Simon's cell. That good, innocent person was going to have his rightful freedom again!
She started to call his name, but stopped dead. Simon was lying on his back, extended, on the floor. Trash surrounded him like a halo.
Athena yelled and began trying to pry the bars to his cell apart. The guard who had charge of the keys ran to call a doctor. Athena thrust her arm between the bars of Simon's cell, trying desperately to reach her saviour, in order to help him.
Simon chuckled, and Athena started. "You're okay?" she asked, eyes filled with tears.
Simon moved himself into a sitting position very slowly. Athena noticed smears around his mouth--mostly brown--and the swell of his heretofore concave tummy.
Athena sighed in relief, sliding down to a sitting position against the bars, on her knees.
"I apologize, Cykes-dono," Simon said. "It seems you brought me a bit more freedom than I was prepared to handle." He ruefully patted his belly, and Athena laughed.